Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress known for her roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has died at 39 in her Manhattan apartment. Police found her unresponsive after an emergency call, and foul play is not suspected. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but reports suggest she recently experienced complications following a liver transplant. Trachtenberg began acting as a child, starring in “Harriet The Spy” and later gained fame on “Buffy” as Dawn and on “Gossip Girl” as Georgina Sparks. Her final credit was in the “Gossip Girl” reboot in 2022.
New York:
Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress recognized for her performances in series like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has passed away, as reported by US media outlets. She was 39 years old.
According to police, officers arrived at an emergency call just after 8:00 am local time (1300 GMT) on Wednesday, as noted by The New York Times, where they discovered her unconscious and unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment.
Emergency medical personnel declared her dead at the scene without specifying a cause. Authorities indicated that foul play is not suspected.
ABC News, citing anonymous sources, reported that the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have been facing complications.
A New York native, Trachtenberg began her career as a child star, portraying the lead character in the 1996 film “Harriet The Spy,” which she starred in alongside Rosie O’Donnell.
She also appeared on the Nickelodeon children’s network, including in the television series “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.”
Her significant breakthrough came with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” where she played Dawn, the younger sister of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s main character.
Trachtenberg was a part of that series from 2000 to 2003.
She later portrayed the socialite antagonist Georgina Sparks on the acclaimed series “Gossip Girl” from 2008 to 2012, sharing the screen with co-stars such as Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and Leighton Meester.
Her other film credits include “EuroTrip,” “17 Again,” and “The Scribbler.”
Trachtenberg made several guest appearances on television shows like “Weeds” and “Mercy,” and appeared in the Gossip Girl reboot in 2022, which is noted as her final acting credit.
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